. >> reporter: up against a well-liked republican incumbent, senator scott brown, who won ted kennedy's seat two years ago. the rare republican who stresses his cooperation with president obama who's expected to easily carry massachusetts. >> i was just named the least partisan senator, and i take great pride in that, in working with others trying to get things done. >> reporter: voters are deciding 33 senate races, and for much of the year republicans believed they had a good shot at picking up the three or four seats needed to take over the majority, but controversy slowed their momentum. republicans had banked on wins in missouri and indiana until gop candidates todd akin and richard mourdock made divisive comments about rape and pregnancy. >> those two races in particular, the republicans have done it to themselves, and those two races might be enough to cost the republicans control of the senate. >> reporter: in connecticut republicans had hoped former world wrestling entertainment ceo linda mcmahon could pull off an upset spending part of her own fortune, but polls show her behind